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en-usFri, 09 Dec 2016 10:48:23 -0500Fri, 09 Dec 2016 10:48:23 -0500The latest news on EA from Business Insiderhttp://static3.businessinsider.com/assets/images/bilogo-250x36-wide-rev.pngBusiness Insiderhttp://www.businessinsider.com
http://www.businessinsider.com/mass-effect-andromeda-trailer-photos-2016-11The new 'Mass Effect' game looks unbelievably cool — here's everything we knowhttp://www.businessinsider.com/mass-effect-andromeda-trailer-photos-2016-11
Thu, 10 Nov 2016 12:08:52 -0500Ben Gilbert
<p>The "Mass Effect" series is beloved by millions of people, both hardcore gamers and casuals alike.</p>
<p>It's a space opera like no other in video games; it shares more in common with the "Star Wars" film series than it does with other game franchises.</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5824a89846e27a1c008b5ee0-1200/mass-effect-2.jpg" alt="mass effect 2" data-mce-source="Bioware / EA"></p>
<p>The original trilogy followed the exploits of Commander Shepard, a player-created character who was shaped by your actions in-game. The male version is seen above (center), but you could also play a female version of Shepard.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, when the credits rolled on "Mass Effect 3," the story was over. No more space opera, no more tales of heroic Commander Shepard. That's where "Mass Effect Andromeda" comes in. </p>
<p><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/582494c246e27a2e008b5e64-1440/screen%20shot%202016-11-10%20at%2010.39.02%20am.png" alt="Mass Effect: Andromeda" data-mce-source="BioWare / EA"></p>
<p>The next "Mass Effect" is expected in spring 2017, but we just got a look at a lengthy new trailer. Here's all the stuff we learned:</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ps4-pro-release-date-specs-features-2016-11" >The PlayStation 4 Pro is about to launch — here's everything you need to know</a></strong></p>
<h3>First things first: "Mass Effect" is a third-person action series from BioWare (an EA-owned game studio).</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/58249c64691e88284e8b52d4-400-300/first-things-first-mass-effect-is-a-third-person-action-series-from-bioware-an-ea-owned-game-studio.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>In "Mass Effect: Andromeda," you'll be doing plenty of third-person shooting — expect a lot of running to take cover, then popping out to fire shots off at various alien enemies.</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5824a03f46e27a2e008b5ea2-400-300/in-mass-effect-andromeda-youll-be-doing-plenty-of-third-person-shooting--expect-a-lot-of-running-to-take-cover-then-popping-out-to-fire-shots-off-at-various-alien-enemies.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>But people come to "Mass Effect" for the story, and "Andromeda" looks to be the beginning of a new epic.</h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/58249c65691e881b008b5ff1-400-300/but-people-come-to-mass-effect-for-the-story-and-andromeda-looks-to-be-the-beginning-of-a-new-epic.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mass-effect-andromeda-trailer-photos-2016-11#/#a-new-trailer-sets-the-stage-an-alien-race-thats-been-sleeping-for-hundreds-of-years-is-awoken-likely-in-the-andromeda-galaxy-the-closest-galaxy-to-our-own-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/titanfall-2-review-2016-11'Titanfall 2' is a precedent-setting game that everyone should playhttp://www.businessinsider.com/titanfall-2-review-2016-11
Wed, 02 Nov 2016 16:07:23 -0400Ben Gilbert
<p>Let's get this out of the way up front: You should play "Titanfall 2."&nbsp;</p>
<p>If you even remotely enjoy video games (especially of the first-person shooter variety), it's a game you should play: It's available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, and it costs $60. Allow me to stress how few qualifications I have for that recommendation. Play "Titanfall 2," preferably sooner than later. <em>Today</em>.</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5818a703362ca473028b61cb-1366/tf2_wallpaper_1366x768_v3.jpg" alt="Titanfall 2" data-mce-source="Respawn Entertainment" /></p>
<p>That out of the way, allow me to explain.</p>
<p>"Titanfall 2" is a strong mix of innovative, fresh ideas with a strong design pedigree. Like so much of the world's best art, "Titanfall 2" feels like a cohesive product of intentional design &mdash; an expression of mission from the folks behind it, and a hand-crafted universe to explore for the people playing it.</p>
<p>Here's "Titanfall 2" in short:</p>
<ul>
<li>It's a first-person shooter, with a focus on movement.</li>
<li>To that end, you can double-jump and wall run. "Titanfall 2" is all about moving <em>fast</em>.</li>
<li>There's a lengthy, excellent single-player campaign, and a robust, excellent multiplayer section.</li>
<li>You control a person named Jack Cooper, and a robot named BT.</li>
<li>Sometimes Jack gets inside the robot &mdash; his "Titan" &mdash; and operates it, sorta like that movie "Pacific Rim."</li>
</ul>
<p>That's pretty much all you need to know.</p>
<p>There's a cobbled-together story about humanity colonizing other planets, and a war between colonizers and a company that's using the colonies for profit. <em>Whatever</em>.</p>
<p>It's clear that the story is far from the point; it's just a means of propelling your character from one exciting gameplay sequence to another. In this way, "Titanfall 2's" campaign feels like a disjointed string of events. That sounds like a criticism, but it's not intended as such &mdash; the game puts a premium on your time. It says, "Don't worry about this generic guy you're playing as. Leap from wall to wall while solving puzzles and fighting off murderous robots! And please enjoy!"</p>
<p>The single-player campaign in "Titanfall 2" almost seems like a trick.</p>
<p><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5818afdd362ca478018b61d7-1300/tf2_5.jpg" alt="Titanfall 2" data-mce-source="Respawn Entertainment" /></p>
<p>In every way, it's framed as a generic, boring, even antiquated shooter campaign. In reality, it's far from that &mdash; the single-player campaign of "Titanfall 2" is well-paced and smart. It's a breath of fresh air in a genre full of self-serious, by-the-numbers, throwaway single-player campaigns. Just like "DOOM" took its franchise roots and modernized them, "Titanfall 2" takes experimental first-person shooters of the late '90s/early '00s and modernizes them.</p>
<p>I'd love to tell you specifics about why much of the campaign is so incredible, but ruining any of that surprise would be a tremendous disservice. I cannot recommend enough that you persevere in the game's single-player campaign. It starts slow, but you <em>must persevere</em>. It's worth it, I assure you.</p>
<h2>So, how about that multiplayer?</h2>
<p>How about another up-front statement? The multiplayer in "Titanfall 2" is likely to be this year's best of any multiplayer shooter.</p>
<p>As of this writing, "Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare" has yet to launch. It could be incredible! That caveat aside, in a year packed with so many genuinely excellent shooting games &mdash; whether you're talking about "DOOM" or "Battlefield 1" or "Gears of War 4" &mdash; "Titanfall 2" stands out.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5818bd22362ca4b44f8b5c9d-1300/tf2_4.jpg" alt="Titanfall 2" data-mce-source="Respawn Entertainment" /></p>
<p>There are several main modes:</p>
<ul>
<li>"Amped Hardpoint" has two teams vying for control of several "hardpoints" (areas on a map) that must be taken and held. The longer your team holds the points, the more points you'll earn &mdash; first team to 400 wins. By staying at a hardpoint, you can "amp" it, thus earning points at double the speed. Thus, there's an ongoing struggle between whether to stay and "amp" a held point, or to clear one being held by the enemy team. It's my favorite mode, but that could just be because I play a lot of "Battlefield" and it's similar to Conquest in that series.</li>
<li>"Attrition" is a mode that's returning from the first "Titanfall," which has two teams competing in a massive deathmatch. In a twist on the classic team deathmatch multiplayer mode, "Titanfall" adds computer-controller characters into the fray. Suddenly, instead of just fighting against the other team, you're also fighting against squads of enemy characters and hulking titans.&nbsp;</li>
<li>"Bounty Hunt" is another new mode, which takes Attrition and adds another wrinkle: you earn money from kills, and that money must be "banked" in between waves of enemies. Of course, if you're killed by an enemy before depositing your stash, they'll take half. Looks like you should've gotten that pre-nup after all.</li>
</ul>
<p>There are other modes (Capture the Flag and what have you), but the three above are what distinguishes "Titanfall 2" from other shooters.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Not only is the second-t0-second gameplay fun &mdash; running along a wall, hopping to another, shooting a grappling hook and swinging to yet another wall, double jumping onto a titan, and ripping out one of its energy packs &mdash; but the game modes are as well. Like the gameplay itself, the multiplayer modes encourage a breakneck pace. And you'll respawn just as quickly as you're taken down.</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5818c3c9362ca478258b5fb0-1300/tf2_3.jpg" alt="Titanfall 2" data-mce-source="Respawn Entertainment" /></p>
<p>There's tremendous reward to plumb from the movement alone. Mastering the art of undeterred movement is just as crucial as knowing how to shoot, what weapon to use, and how to counter the enemy.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Good news, everyone!</h2>
<p>It's hard to imagine who "Titanfall 2" <em>isn't</em> for (other than young children, of course &mdash; it's violent, albeit in a cartoon way).</p>
<p>It's a first-person shooter, but it does things with movement that few action-adventure games accomplish. It's innovative, but it also shines at the basics: shooting, cover, and weapon selection are all top-notch. Not a campaign kinda player? There's a ridiculous amount of multiplayer for you, and it's <em>really good</em>. Not into playing online? No problem: The single-player campaign is good enough alone to recommend playing "Titanfall 2."&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5818c16c362ca427008b62bc-1300/tf2_2.jpg" alt="Titanfall 2" data-mce-source="Respawn Entertainment" /></p>
<p>To be completely, all the way clear, "Titanfall 2" is the kind of game that changes the genre. You can already see the affects of the first "Titanfall" on the long-running "Call of Duty" franchise (double-jumping and wall-running are now a standard).</p>
<p>With "Titanfall 2," another line is being drawn in the sand. How the "Halos" and "Call of Dutys" of the world respond is anyone's guess. While we wait to find out, I'll be playing "Titanfall 2."</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/battlefield-1-review-2016-10" >The new 'Battlefield' game takes war seriously, and it's a terrifying and incredible accomplishment</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/titanfall-2-review-2016-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-add-bigger-hard-drive-playstation-4-2016-10">How to add a bigger hard drive to the Playstation 4</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/battlefield-1-marketing-2016-10‘Battlefield 1’ is a reverent homage to the first World War, but its marketing is far from thathttp://www.businessinsider.com/battlefield-1-marketing-2016-10
Mon, 31 Oct 2016 14:03:23 -0400Alex Perry
<p>This may sound cynical, but I never really expect video games to depict the grim realities of war with any respect or nuance. There just isn't any industry-wide precedent for it.</p>
<p>That's why it's such a pleasant surprise to hear that "Battlefield 1," which bucks trends by going back in time to World War I, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/battlefield-1-review-2016-10">manages to pull it off with some amount of grace</a>. I haven't played the final game yet, but my colleague Ben Gilbert (as well as everyone else I've talked to) insists the game is refreshingly reverent of its setting.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like the marketing team got the memo. There have been questionable marketing decisions surrounding "Battlefield 1" for months, but on Monday morning, the game's official Twitter account really registered on the bad marketing Richter scale by posting a handful of questionable tweets, which have all since been deleted, including this one:</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/581761e8b28a641b008b5dd3-640/screen%20shot%202016-10-31%20at%2011.01.22%20am.png" alt="battlefield 1 tweet" data-mce-source="Battlefield/Twitter"></p>
<p>It's...yeah. What a world we live in. #justWWIthings is a pretty outstanding misuse of the concept of promotional hashtags, which is made worse when you consider it may have been approved by multiple people who should know better. There were other tweets using the hashtag, each of them equally embarrassing.</p>
<p>This, of course, is not the first time EA, the publisher of "Battlefield 1," made questionable marketing choices to promote this game. Here are some other examples:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://youtu.be/c7nRTF2SowQ">The game's reveal trailer</a>, which was set to a dubstep-ish remix of "Seven Nation Army."</li>
<li>
<a href="https://youtu.be/4pY3hlQEOc0">The first gameplay trailer</a>, which was set to a remix of a Wiz Khalifa song while showing the horrors of World War I.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://youtu.be/8lzoHY4MVyM">A phenomenally awkward sequence</a> of red carpet interviews with unenthused celebrities about the game back when it was first revealed.</li>
</ul>
<p>Since we first learned of this game's existence, its marketing team has undermined it with a series of missteps that seem completely at odds with the game itself. Just about the only piece of marketing that seemed to accurately represent the game was <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-battlefield-1-trailer-2016-9">the trailer for its single-player story mode</a>. </p>
<p>Of course, the contents within "Battlefield 1" shouldn't be exempt from criticism. <a href="https://mic.com/articles/157355/battlefield-1-dice-refuses-to-say-whether-female-avatars-are-coming-to-multiplayer#.uv7wOfGti">Its developers have been cagey</a> about whether or not women will be playable in the multiplayer modes, for example.</p>
<p>There's also this tweet, which promises to add the curiously-missing French army to the game with a "premium" (meaning it will cost money) expansion pack:</p>
<p><div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>
<a href="https://twitter.com/ItsLikeColin">@ItsLikeColin</a> The French army was an important force in the conflict, and we're dedicating an entire Premium expansion to them. </p>— Battlefield (@Battlefield) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/792126372592295936">October 28, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></p>
<p>Needless to say, there are more examples of tone-deafness from the marketing behind "Battlefield 1," but I don't need to itemize every single issue to make my point: Given that the final product seems to be sufficiently respectful of its setting, it's disheartening to see the enormous disconnect between that and nearly all of the promotion around it. If you only saw the most publicly-visible side of the game, you'd think it was a Mountain Dew-infused pro-gamer odyssey rather than a heartfelt war story.</p>
<p>The marketing around "Battlefield 1" has been doing the game a disservice, and even though I still fully intend to play and enjoy it, I wouldn't blame anyone who was dissuaded by the promotional materials.</p>
<p><strong>Update: </strong>We reached out to the game's publisher, Electronic Arts, for comment on the deleted tweets. Here is EA's response:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>"We would like to apologize for any offense caused by content in the last 24 hours posted on the @Battlefield Twitter account. It did not treat the World War 1 era with the respect and sensitivity that we have strived to maintain with the game and our communications."</span></p>
</blockquote><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/battlefield-1-review-2016-10" >The new 'Battlefield' game takes war seriously, and it's a terrifying and incredible accomplishment</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/battlefield-1-marketing-2016-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tiny-buttons-rivets-jeans-2016-11">What those tiny rivets on your jeans are for</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/peter-moore-ea-speaker-business-insider-ignition-2016-10eSports will break the billion dollar barrier by 2017http://www.businessinsider.com/peter-moore-ea-speaker-business-insider-ignition-2016-10
Fri, 28 Oct 2016 08:45:00 -0400Business Insider
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/57ffe9fada177d202f8b4888-800/800px-peter_moore_at_xbox_cup_2006.jpg" alt="Peter Moore EA" data-mce-source="Wikimedia Commons" data-link="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Moore_(businessman)#/media/File:Peter_Moore_at_Xbox_Cup_2006.jpg"></p><p></p>
<p>It's official: eSports are all grown up.</p>
<p>Just look at <a href="http://www.ea.com/">Electronic Arts</a>. Across the board, the interactive-software giant's games are more interactive than ever, from NFL Madden to NBA Live.</p>
<p>EA's massive FIFA series is a perfect example of the changes that e-sports have undergone. The FIFA games have become increasingly sophisticated, featuring more advanced gameplay modes and virtual tournaments.</p>
<p>This quality content from EA doesn't just provide fans with entertainment. It really taps into the joy of the game, which brings <a href="http://www.sporttechie.com/2016/10/13/expert-series/mlss-chris-schlosser-talks-ea-sports-live-content-and-futuristic-viewing/">sports fans all over the world together</a>. That's why we're so excited that Peter Moore, the chief competition officer at Electronic Arts, will be sharing his insight at <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/event/ignition-2016"><strong>IGNITION</strong>: Future of Digital</a>, Business Insider's flagship conference. He will be speaking with Twitch CMO Kevin Lin about the future of eSports.</p>
<p>Moore and Lin will share their thoughts on the direction that this electronic entertainment is heading, as the industry "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/esports-will-break-1-billion-in-2017-2016-7"> is a $892 million market, up 19% year-on-year (YoY), and will surpass $1 billion next year"</a>.</p>
<p>Don't miss Moore speak at <strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/event/ignition-2016">IGNITION</a></strong>, which takes place <strong>December 5-7</strong> at the Time Warner Center in New York City.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/event/ignition-2016/speakers">Other <strong>IGNITION</strong> speakers</a> include Arianna Huffington, founder of Thrive Global; Julia Boorstin, CNBC senior media and entertainment correspondent; and Mike Dyer, president and publisher of The Daily Beast.</p>
<p><strong>Sign up today before tickets sell out!</strong></p>
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</div></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-ea-revenue-beats-estimates-on-higher-game-downloads-2016-8" >EA revenue beats estimates thanks to 'Star Wars' and FIFA</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/peter-moore-ea-speaker-business-insider-ignition-2016-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/battlefield-1-review-2016-10The new 'Battlefield' game takes war seriously, and it's a terrifying and incredible accomplishmenthttp://www.businessinsider.com/battlefield-1-review-2016-10
Thu, 20 Oct 2016 09:42:00 -0400Ben Gilbert
<p>There are too many shooting games.</p>
<p>As a human being who enjoys video games, how are you to be expected to understand the subtle differences between, say, "Gears of War 4" and "Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare"? To say nothing of "Titanfall 2" or "Battlefield 1," or any of the other myriad games where shooting a gun is the main form of interaction.</p>
<p>Fortunately, we've sorted through the mess. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/gears-of-war-4-review-2016-10">We already told you about "Gears of War 4"</a> &mdash; that's a pretty good game right there! &mdash; and this week "Battlefield 1" is finally out.</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5807c60f8d83b41f008b58b8-2048/screen shot 2016-09-27 at 1.59.55 pm.png" alt="Battlefield 1" data-mce-source="Electronic Arts" data-link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-vAxVh8ins" /></p>
<p>Far from the action-blockbuster bombast of "Gears of War 4," the "Battlefield" series skews toward serious re-creation of actual combat. There are some conceits to the video game nature of it &mdash; replenishing health and leaping from rooftops, for instance &mdash; but the series aims for a more serious tone than its competition.</p>
<p>In "Battlefield 1," the long-running series is heading to World War I.</p>
<p>That means trench warfare, mustard gas, gangrenous appendages, and battle on a scale previously unseen on Earth.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"Battlefield 1" may be a video game, but it clearly takes its subject matter seriously. From minute one of "Battlefield 1," you're faced with the horrific reality of "the war to end all wars."&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5807cabdc524022f068b5860-2048/screen shot 2016-09-27 at 1.56.10 pm.png" alt="Battlefield 1" data-mce-source="Electronic Arts" data-link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-vAxVh8ins" /></p>
<p>The game is split in two, between a single-player "War Stories" component, and an online multiplayer component.</p>
<p>If you're a fan of the series, no doubt you're looking for information on the latter. You're in luck: Multiplayer feels about the same as in previous "Battlefield" games. That's not a knock against it &mdash; "Battlefield" is the high watermark for online first-person shooter multiplayer games as far as I'm concerned. Everything from graphics to gameplay to sound design is first in class; it's gorgeous, incredibly fun, and playing with surround sound is a great way to feel like you're in a terrifying firefight. It's also <em>massive</em>, with up to 64 players in a single match.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The usual modes are there (Conquest and Rush) while two new modes (War Pigeons and Operations) add new flavor. That said, it's likely that players will stick with the classics &mdash; while War Pigeons is interesting (collect a pigeon and get it to safety before the enemy team), it's little more than a novelty version of one-sided capture the flag. Operations takes the idea of Rush (capture various points) and expands it into a massive, ongoing game across several locations. Rather than holding points, you'll play either offense or defense.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5807d197c524021d008b59bd-2048/screen shot 2016-09-27 at 1.57.37 pm.png" alt="Battlefield 1" data-mce-source="Electronic Arts" data-link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-vAxVh8ins" /></p>
<p>But this stuff is all basically standard for the series. If you like previous "Battlefield" games for the multiplayer, you're going to like "Battlefield 1" for the same reasons.&nbsp;</p>
<p>What's <em>really</em> different about "Battlefield 1" from other games, as well as from previous entries in the "Battlefield" series, is the single-player "War Stories" mode.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5807d27bc52402e6018b5969-1536/screen shot 2016-09-27 at 1.54.24 pm 1.png" alt="Battlefield 1" data-mce-source="Electronic Arts" data-link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-vAxVh8ins" /></p>
<p>The concept behind "Battlefield 1" being set in World War I is simple, and incredibly fraught: tell the story of the first war spanning the globe, that saw the clash of saber-wielding soldiers on horseback with new world empires.</p>
<p>Rather than attempting to tell a single story, "Battlefield 1" takes a "Saving Private Ryan" approach: It tells the story of the war from the perspective of a variety of fictional but believable characters. You'll play as a grunt on the front lines, as a pilot soaring through the air, as a warrior galloping across the desert &mdash; even as a pigeon, bringing the message to take out Germans with artillery (even though it also means your squad's demise).</p>
<p>In this respect, "Battlefield 1" is an incredible accomplishment.</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5807d552c524024d008b5a29-1536/screen shot 2016-09-27 at 1.56.36 pm.png" alt="Battlefield 1" data-mce-source="Electronic Arts" data-link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-vAxVh8ins" /></p>
<p>It employs gorgeous graphics and polished gameplay systems to great effect when it comes to empathy &mdash; an emotion rarely evoked by even the best storytelling in video games, let alone blockbuster games like this.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In an early mission, you're trapped behind enemy lines. After carefully sneaking past a few dozen German soldiers, you must sneak through no man's land &mdash; the scorched earth between enemy and friendly lines where battles are fought &mdash; which is pocked with disfigured body after disfigured body. It's one of the many instances in "Battlefield 1" that smartly conveys the seriousness of the situation without overbearing rhetoric.</p>
<p>If I have any complains about "Battlefield 1," it's that "War Stories" is too short.</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5807de158d83b4b8628b53bd-2048/screen shot 2016-09-27 at 1.58.04 pm.png" alt="Battlefield 1" data-mce-source="Electronic Arts" data-link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-vAxVh8ins" /></p>
<p>There are just a handful of stories, and it's the freshest, most innovative addition to any major shooting series since "Titanfall" added double jumps and wall-running. That it left me wanting for more isn't exactly a knock against it. In case it wasn't already clear, "Battlefield 1" is a fantastic, fresh entry in a series that's hit some turbulence in the last few years. If you're at all interested in a more mature take on storytelling in first-person shooters, this is the game for you.</p>
<p>"Battlefield 1" arrives on October 21 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/battlefield-1-campaign-gameplay-2016-10" >'Battlefield 1' looks much more poignant than your typical action game</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>DON'T MISS:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/battlefield-1-looks-stunning-photos-2016-7" >This might be the prettiest game we've ever seen</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/battlefield-1-review-2016-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/battlefield-1-gameplay-video-demo-2016-6">Here’s your first look at 'Battlefield 1’ — the life-like war game that blew up on YouTube</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/star-wars-knights-of-the-eternal-throne-trailer-2016-10'Star Wars' fans are freaking out over this stunning new game trailerhttp://www.businessinsider.com/star-wars-knights-of-the-eternal-throne-trailer-2016-10
Tue, 11 Oct 2016 09:58:27 -0400Ben Gilbert
<p>A new "Star Wars" trailer has fans going bananas. The trailer racked up nearly 2 million views on YouTube in the past four days; <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-10-10-the-old-republic-latest-trailer-is-better-than-many-star-wars-movies">Eurogamer called it</a> "better than many Star Wars movies."</p>
<p>Sounds hyperbolic? It isn't. As a lapsed "Star Wars" fan myself, I can attest: This is the good stuff.</p>
<p>The trailer isn't for a new "Star Wars" movie or even a TV show — it's for a yearsold game, "Star Wars: The Old Republic," that originally launched way back in 2011 but is getting a big expansion this holiday.</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/57fce36d8109eea2408b48d8-1440/swtor_large_2x1.jpg" alt="Star Wars: The Old Republic" data-mce-source="LucasArts / EA"></p>
<p>With the expansion, titled "Knights of the Eternal Throne," the age-old story of the Dark Side corrupting a young padawan is back at the forefront.</p>
<p>The gorgeous trailer explores this journey, from a young girl trying to figure out how to use the Force to a dark lordess engaged in mortal conflict with her own mother.</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/57fce54b4046ddc6528b47ab-1440/screen%20shot%202016-10-11%20at%209.12.13%20am.png" alt="Star Wars: The Old Republic" data-mce-source="BioWare / LucasArts"></p>
<p>Don't get it twisted: This trailer is <em>not</em> representative of what "Star Wars: The Old Republic" looks like (or even plays like). The game is in the MMO, or massively multiplayer online, genre, which puts hundreds or thousands of players into an online world together.</p>
<p>"Star Wars: The Old Republic" looks and plays more like "World of Warcraft" than the cinematic action shown in this incredible trailer. In fairness, <em>no</em> games look and play like this trailer — it's got more in common with the "Star Wars" films than any game.</p>
<p>And that's why you shouldn't miss it, even if you don't care about this game. It's genuinely some of the best short-form "Star Wars" storytelling I've ever seen, and I think you'll agree:<div>
<iframe width="800" height="450" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LbpDxrew4A0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/star-wars-episode-8-news-rumors-updates-2016-9" >Here's everything we know so far about 'Star Wars: Episode VIII'</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/star-wars-knights-of-the-eternal-throne-trailer-2016-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/star-wars-rogue-one-trailer-2016-8">The full trailer for the next Star Wars movie is finally here</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/madden-nfl-17-hurricane-matthew-service-message-2016-10Thanks to Hurricane Matthew, there's a unique message when you boot up 'Madden NFL 17'http://www.businessinsider.com/madden-nfl-17-hurricane-matthew-service-message-2016-10
Thu, 06 Oct 2016 11:53:18 -0400Alex Perry
<p>With a Category 4 hurricane about to make landfall in Florida, residents of the state are either evacuating or battening down the hatches. That includes the folks at EA Tiburon, the development studio behind "Madden NFL 17."</p>
<p>One player noticed a unique alert message when they booted up the NFL football simulation today:</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/57f671089bd9786f018b53bb-1200/86zqde1.jpg" alt="86zQde1" data-mce-source="Imgur" data-link="http://imgur.com/86zQde1" /></p>
<p>The EA Sports location pin is set to Maitland, Florida, where EA Tiburon is located. The developers have helpfully included a weather radar to let players know just how bad it might get near the office. So if online services for "Madden NFL 17" get funky for the next few days, it's certainly understandable.</p>
<p>Stay safe, EA Tiburon.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/rick-scott-hurricane-matthew-will-kill-you-2016-10" >Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Hurricane Matthew: 'This storm will kill you'</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/madden-nfl-17-hurricane-matthew-service-message-2016-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tips-to-make-iphone-battery-last-longer-2016-11">These crucial tips will make your iPhone battery last longer</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/new-battlefield-1-trailer-2016-9The newest trailer for 'Battlefield 1' is breathtakinghttp://www.businessinsider.com/new-battlefield-1-trailer-2016-9
Tue, 27 Sep 2016 15:29:17 -0400Tim Mulkerin
<p>A new trailer for "Battlefield 1" dropped today in advance of its release on October 21, and it's <em>breathtaking</em>.</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/57eab628b0ef97eb018b8816-2048/screen%20shot%202016-09-27%20at%201.54.57%20pm.png" alt="Battlefield 1" data-mce-source="Electronic Arts" data-link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-vAxVh8ins"></p>
<p>Previous trailers for the World War I-themed game, while impressive, were basically what you'd expect from a first-person shooter — lots of explosions, a shaky camera, people yelling "<em>Grenade!</em>" You know the drill.</p>
<p>What's so striking about this new trailer is that it focuses on the game's single player story, which actually looks to be of substance, rather than a throwaway mode you plod through before diving into multiplayer.</p>
<p>Take a look for yourself:</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/forza-horizon-3-review-2016-9" >'Forza Horizon 3' is the best racing game on any game console</a></strong></p>
<h3>While most first-person shooters aren't known for their character development, this new trailer focuses squarely on the game's many protagonists.</h3>
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/57eab628b0ef97b3088b86e1-400-300/while-most-first-person-shooters-arent-known-for-their-character-development-this-new-trailer-focuses-squarely-on-the-games-many-protagonists.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>In lieu of focusing on one character, the story of "Battlefield 1" will be structured like an anthology, putting players in the shoes of many different people.</h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/57eab62bb0ef97c5098b86bf-400-300/in-lieu-of-focusing-on-one-character-the-story-of-battlefield-1-will-be-structured-like-an-anthology-putting-players-in-the-shoes-of-many-different-people.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>Including — notably, and somewhat unbelievably — the series' first playable female character. She's an Arab rebel who functions as the "right hand" of Lawrence of Arabia.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/57eab62ab0ef973f1b8b84e2-400-300/including--notably-and-somewhat-unbelievably--the-series-first-playable-female-character-shes-an-arab-rebel-who-functions-as-the-right-hand-of-lawrence-of-arabia.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-battlefield-1-trailer-2016-9#/#this-new-trailer-also-features-some-spectacular-scenery-like-the-chaotic-skies-of-a-dogfight-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/madden-nfl-17-bug-ruins-play-action-passes-2016-8A glitch is ruining 'Madden NFL 17' for some playershttp://www.businessinsider.com/madden-nfl-17-bug-ruins-play-action-passes-2016-8
Tue, 30 Aug 2016 12:42:00 -0400Alex Perry
<p>"Madden NFL 17" is being praised as one of the best games in the recent history of the acclaimed series, but it's not without its problems.</p>
<p>In the week since its release, some players across multiple platforms are having their experiences ruined by a malicious glitch.</p>
<p>The bug, which is coming up in several YouTube videos and forum threads, makes it impossible to run play-action pass plays. For the uninitiated, those are the plays when the quarterback fakes a handoff to a running back before throwing the ball.</p>
<p>Specifically, after the player fakes the handoff, the passing icons over the receivers' heads don't appear and it becomes impossible to throw the ball. Here's footage of the glitch in action, from YouTube user John Smith:</p>
<p><div>
<iframe width="800" height="450" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Qsl5Q1LpX_0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></p>
<p>Players have reported the glitch happening in multiple modes across the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game. It was brought to my attention by Business Insider markets editor Jonathan Garber, who reported the glitch ruining his experience playing multiplayer in the Xbox version of the game.</p>
<p>This is a big deal because play-action passing is a <em>huge</em> component of a modern NFL offense. If the defense isn't sure whether you're going to run or pass, you've already won. That logic applies both in real and virtual football.</p>
<p>It's also not especially surprising, given that there are several physics calculations happening on any given play in a "Madden" game. For as realistic as the games are most of the time, there are always weird glitches here and there.</p>
<p>The description on the above YouTube video suggests <a href="http://ccm.net/faq/36263-xbox-one-how-to-clear-the-blu-ray-discs-persistent-storage">clearing your Blu-Ray persistent storage</a> to fix the bug on Xbox One, while other users have reported that hard resetting the console will fix it. We've reached out to EA to see if they're aware of the bug and are working on a fix, but have not received a response at this time.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/madden-nfl-17-bug-ruins-play-action-passes-2016-8#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/photo-series-reveals-true-proportions-huge-objects-2016-11">These size comparisons show the true scale of enormous things</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/madden-nfl-17-review-2016-8Smart new features make 'Madden NFL 17' the best the series has been in yearshttp://www.businessinsider.com/madden-nfl-17-review-2016-8
Mon, 29 Aug 2016 16:40:30 -0400Alex Perry
<p>Football is back and more dramatic&nbsp;than ever, folks. Thanks to a bevy of retirements, injuries and suspensions, several of the NFL's top teams will be without their top superstars to start the season. Talk about excitement!</p>
<p>Thankfully, "Madden NFL 17" is here to give you a virtual space to pretend everything is alright and that your favorite team actually has a chance this year. Here's how this year's game improves and expands upon the series:</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/madden-nfl-17-bug-ruins-play-action-passes-2016-8" >A glitch is ruining 'Madden NFL 17' for some players</a></strong></p>
<h3>The biggest new addition is Big Moments, a smart feature that offers a helping hand.</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/57c47ff509d293c4058b4fee-400-300/the-biggest-new-addition-is-big-moments-a-smart-feature-that-offers-a-helping-hand.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>"Madden NFL 17" offers a new way to play through a season with any team in Franchise Mode. "Big Moments" condenses each game into a 15- to 20-minute chunk where the player only takes control on big third downs, two-minute drills and in the red zone (on both offense and defense).</p>
<p>This fixes the problem from previous games where the only way to feel like you were really in control was to play&nbsp;<em>every</em> snap of the game on offense and defense, a tedious and lengthy process.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This way, you can get that crucial first down to run down the clock, throw the game-winning touchdown pass or sack the opposing quarterback on fourth down without worrying about the boring stuff.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Unfortunately, Big Moments still has some kinks to work out.</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/57bb08f6db5ce91c008b810f-400-300/unfortunately-big-moments-still-has-some-kinks-to-work-out.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>As you'd expect of any significant new feature, the "Big Moments" system is far from perfect. Mainly, it could stand to defer control to the player a bit more often.</p>
<p>As I guided the Kansas City Chiefs to a 15-1 season and a Super Bowl championship, there were a few moments of frustration. On a couple of occasions, I had to sit and watch as my simulated offense stalled on three consecutive drives, or as my defense gave up&nbsp;a few touchdowns without my intervention.</p>
<p>Those are things my wonderful boys would&nbsp;<em>never</em> do in real life.</p>
<p>I think they could alter the system to let the player intervene at least once on every possession (while the game is still close) without making the games feel too long. As it stands, "Big Moments" changes the game for the better, but it needs work.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Of course, none of this matters if it isn't fun to actually play football.</h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/57bf42e1b996eb0e228b4708-400-300/of-course-none-of-this-matters-if-it-isnt-fun-to-actually-play-football.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>Thankfully, playing football is as good as it's been in years in "Madden NFL 17." This is all thanks to a few small but welcome improvements.&nbsp;</p>
<p>If you set up a running play on offense, holding the right trigger will draw a green box on screen to show you a soft spot in the defense, if one exists at all. This way, you can change to a run that exploits the soft spot, or stick with the one you had dialed up if it already did.</p>
<p>Once you're actually controlling someone with the ball in their hands, the game helpfully gives you on-screen button prompts to perform jukes, stiff-arms or spin moves when necessary. If you think that sounds like "Madden" for babies, you can turn it off.</p>
<p>Also, before each game in Franchise Mode, you can take part in practice sessions that teach you how to execute certain plays that will work against the team you're about to play. This isn't necessarily new, but it does a much better job of explaining arcane football concepts than before.</p>
<p>One more thing: The commentary has been&nbsp;<em>massively</em> improved, with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms' staleness replaced by newcomers Brandon Gaudin and Charles Davis. You can read more about that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/madden-17-commentary-is-the-best-2016-8">here</a>.&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/madden-nfl-17-review-2016-8#/#its-not-a-huge-deal-but-the-kicking-game-has-been-improved-too-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/madden-nfl-17-features-improved-franchise-mode-2016-8The biggest addition to 'Madden NFL 17' is a much-needed improvementhttp://www.businessinsider.com/madden-nfl-17-features-improved-franchise-mode-2016-8
Fri, 26 Aug 2016 11:08:52 -0400Alex Perry
<p>For me, franchise mode is the main draw of the "Madden" video games. That's the one where you can be a coach, player or owner and manage the relevant aspects of your career between playing games.</p>
<p>The people who play online multiplayer are way too good for me, and setting up random games is boring. I want to craft a narrative where my team faces adversity and comes out on top at the end of the season, since the Kansas City Chiefs haven't done that in real life since Nixon was in the White House.</p>
<p>In previous years, I've always played as one player (usually a quarterback) because playing every snap of every game takes way too long and managing draft picks and free agency are a drag. That means I get to avoid the things I don't like, but the experience ultimately feels shallow.</p>
<p>In "Madden NFL 17," the new Big Moments system mostly fixes that problem.</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/57bb08b5db5ce9b61b8b7fd7-1920/madden_17_-_blocked_kick_(3).jpg" alt="madden 17" data-mce-source="EA Sports" /></p>
<p>Big Moments is an optional feature when you're playing as the coach in franchise mode. The idea is simple:&nbsp;"Madden NFL 17" simulates most of that week's game, cherry-picking important moments for you to take control of instead of making you play all four quarters.</p>
<p>That means you only control the big third down opportunities on offense and defense, two-minute drills at the end of the half or anything else that might have an impact on the game. The rest of the mundane moments in the game are quickly simulated in a cool-looking view that looks like one of those old electronic football toys.</p>
<p>For the most part, it's a really slick feature that lets you play through a game in around 15 minutes, giving you just enough control to feel important while holding back the most boring parts. I played through four games in the time it would've taken me to play two in a previous "Madden" game.</p>
<p>As you would expect from a brand new feature, it's got some kinks to work out. It's a little disheartening to watch my simulated defense give up 21 unanswered points without letting me interfere, for example.</p>
<p>Even with its problems, though, Big Moments is the best gameplay addition to "Madden" in years.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/madden-nfl-17-features-improved-franchise-mode-2016-8#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trailer-martin-scorsese-film-silence-paramount-andrew-garfield-liam-neeson-adam-driver-2016-11">Watch the trailer for the new Martin Scorsese film that took over 20 years to make</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/new-madden-nfl-17-screenshots-2016-8This is how good the new 'Madden' game lookshttp://www.businessinsider.com/new-madden-nfl-17-screenshots-2016-8
Thu, 25 Aug 2016 16:45:06 -0400Alex Perry
<p>As video game consoles get more and more powerful, the line between what's real and what isn't in sports games gets increasingly blurry. We're at the point where each stadium is lovingly realized, each uniform's cloth moves in the wind, and each athlete's sweat drips realistically. </p>
<p>"Madden NFL 17" is no different. Here's how this year's game looks on the newest hardware:</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/madden-17-commentary-is-the-best-2016-8" >The best new feature in 'Madden 17' has nothing to do with playing football</a></strong></p>
<h3>The newly-relocated Los Angeles Rams are heavily featured in "Madden NFL 17," as is their star running back Todd Gurley. Here's how he looks in the game:</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/57bf436509d29358008b4815-400-300/the-newly-relocated-los-angeles-rams-are-heavily-featured-in-madden-nfl-17-as-is-their-star-running-back-todd-gurley-heres-how-he-looks-in-the-game.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>As a bonus, here's Gurley hurdling over Super Bowl MVP Von Miller. An unstoppable force meets an immovable object.</h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/57bf42e1b996eb0e228b4708-400-300/of-course-none-of-this-matters-if-it-isnt-fun-to-actually-play-football.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers is one of the biggest playmakers in the NFL. Here's his virtual counterpart stiff-arming Von Miller, who we swear is one of the best defensive players in the league:</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/57bf486609d293c4058b484a-400-300/antonio-brown-of-the-pittsburgh-steelers-is-one-of-the-biggest-playmakers-in-the-nfl-heres-his-virtual-counterpart-stiff-arming-von-miller-who-we-swear-is-one-of-the-best-defensive-players-in-the-league.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-madden-nfl-17-screenshots-2016-8#/#heres-some-redemption-for-the-denver-broncos-as-safety-tj-ward-blocks-a-kick-from-cairo-santos-of-the-kansas-city-chiefs-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/madden-17-commentary-is-the-best-2016-8The best new feature in 'Madden 17' has nothing to do with playing footballhttp://www.businessinsider.com/madden-17-commentary-is-the-best-2016-8
Thu, 25 Aug 2016 11:09:00 -0400Alex Perry
<p>People play the "Madden" video games because they want to live out their championship dreams on the virtual gridiron. Luckily, with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/madden-nfl-17-new-features-2016-8">a host of great new features and enhancements</a>, playing virtual football is as good as ever in "Madden 17."</p>
<p>But believe it or not, that's not the best part of this year's game.</p>
<p>Replicating the look and sound of an NFL broadcast is equally as important as making the gameplay feel right, and "Madden 17" takes a big step forward with the addition of a new commentary team.</p>
<p>Here are the two guys who will be yapping about your on-field exploits in "Madden" games for the foreseeable future:</p>
<p><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/57bf09a0dd08956b1a8b4d66-661" alt="madden 17" data-mce-source="EA Sports" /></p>
<p>As&nbsp;a play-by-play voice for all manner of college-sports broadcasts (namely Georgia Tech football, baseball, and men's basketball), Brandon Gaudin is a relative unknown in the world of the NFL. Charles Davis, on the other hand, has made his name in recent years as a college-football analyst for Fox Sports and an NFL analyst for the NFL Network.</p>
<p>They're replacing Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, an established CBS Sports broadcasting duo whose commentary had gotten stale in recent "Madden" games. <a href="https://www.easports.com/madden-nfl/news/2016/madden-17-commentary-team">According to EA Sports</a>, Gaudin and Davis offer "unprecedented accessibility," which is code for "these guys can be around way more often to record new commentary."</p>
<p>The benefit is immediately clear after playing a bit of "Madden 17." Upon startup, the game prompted me to download a new commentary update, which was a bit jarring, but certainly welcome. Keeping the commentary timely with current events both in and out of football is a tremendously smart move.</p>
<p><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/57bf09a0dd08956b1a8b4d67-2048/sounds-bg-lg-2x.jpg" alt="madden 17" data-mce-source="EA Sports" /></p>
<p>In my first hour with the game, I was pleased with how fresh the commentary felt. As I marched down the field against the defense using intermediate passes to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Davis remarked about how "short and intermediate passing is a big focus of this team" and "Travis Kelce is really coming into his own as a player."</p>
<p>Aside from merely providing flavor to the proceedings, it also serves as something of a hint system. Gaudin and Davis would remark when the opposing defense was lined up to stop the pass, which I wouldn't have noticed on my own right away. I switched to a running play and moved the chains.</p>
<p>These things weren't missing outright from the previous "Madden" games, but they feel much more dynamic and helpful in "Madden 17." Hopefully it gets even better as Gaudin and Davis increase their in-booth chemistry in future updates and games.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/madden-17-commentary-is-the-best-2016-8#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-wonderlic-test-rookie-questions-2016-4">NFL DRAFT: Take the IQ test that every rookie has to take</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/r-ea-revenue-beats-estimates-on-higher-game-downloads-2016-8EA revenue beats estimates thanks to 'Star Wars' and FIFA (EA)http://www.businessinsider.com/r-ea-revenue-beats-estimates-on-higher-game-downloads-2016-8
Tue, 02 Aug 2016 17:41:00 -0400
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/57a0fe3a5124c94564163b8d-450-300/ea-revenue-beats-estimates-on-higher-game-downloads-2016-8.jpg" alt="An Electronic Arts (EA) video game logo is seen at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, in Los Angeles, California, United States, June 17, 2015. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson" border="0" /></p><p>Video-game publisher Electronic Arts known for titles such as "FIFA" and "Star Wars Battlefront", reported first-quarter revenue that beat analysts' estimates, helped by higher downloads of its games.</p>
<p>The high-margin digital business, where players download digital versions of games, also helped EA post an adjusted profit for the quarter, compared with a loss that the company had forecast.</p>
<p>The company's shares rose 2.5 percent in extended trading on Tuesday.</p>
<p>"Our digital business drove this quarter, particularly outperformance from "FIFA Ultimate Team" on console and "Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes" on mobile," Chief Financial Officer Blake Jorgensen said in a statement.</p>
<p>EA's adjusted revenue fell 1.6 percent to about $682 million in the first quarter ended June 30. Analysts on average were expecting $650.7 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.</p>
<p>On an adjusted basis, EA earned 7 cents per share. The company had forecast a loss of 5 cents per share.</p>
<p>Adjusted sales from EA's digital business rose 6.8 percent to about $568 million and accounted for 83.3 percent of total revenue.</p>
<p>EA forecast a loss of 17 cents per share and revenue of about $915 million for the current quarter.</p>
<p>Starting from this quarter, EA will stop reporting non-GAAP measures that adjust for deferred revenue, as it has done since fiscal 2008, to comply with stricter guidelines by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-xbox-one-s-review-2016-8" >The new Microsoft Xbox One S is better than the original in every major way — and worse in one small one</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-ea-revenue-beats-estimates-on-higher-game-downloads-2016-8#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/battlefield-1-looks-stunning-photos-2016-7This might be the prettiest game we've ever seenhttp://www.businessinsider.com/battlefield-1-looks-stunning-photos-2016-7
Wed, 06 Jul 2016 13:51:38 -0400Ben Gilbert
<p>Lots of video games are pretty. But how many are <em>this</em> pretty?</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/577d454fdd0895a01f8b489d-2400/28027052241_11106d77bf_o.png" alt="Battlefield 1" data-mce-source="EA" data-link="https://www.flickr.com/photos/berduu/sets/72157667523298443"></p>
<p>Right, <em>yes</em>, exactly.</p>
<p>This is "Battlefield 1," a new first-person shooter coming this holiday to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. It aims to depict the grisly reality of World War I. If these early images are anything to go on, that depiction is going to be incredibly impressive to gawk at.</p>
<p>Follow us below for even more!</p><h3>More than just a pretty face, the destroyed European landscape below acts as symbolic representation of the destruction of the "old world."</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/577d4550dd0895a01f8b48a1-400-300/more-than-just-a-pretty-face-the-destroyed-european-landscape-below-acts-as-symbolic-representation-of-the-destruction-of-the-old-world.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>The idyllic, non-industrial world of the past was coming to a close quite literally, with bombs dropping overhead from the first-ever aerial combat in a major war.</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/577d4550dd0895a01f8b48a2-400-300/the-idyllic-non-industrial-world-of-the-past-was-coming-to-a-close-quite-literally-with-bombs-dropping-overhead-from-the-first-ever-aerial-combat-in-a-major-war.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>World War I was a mash-up of more traditional armaments with newly emerging weapons, like zeppelins.</h3>
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/577d4550dd0895a01f8b48a3-400-300/world-war-i-was-a-mash-up-of-more-traditional-armaments-with-newly-emerging-weapons-like-zeppelins.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/battlefield-1-looks-stunning-photos-2016-7#/#tanks-also-made-their-first-appearance-on-a-grand-scale-just-imagine-rolling-into-a-battle-on-a-horse-and-the-opposing-army-sends-in-hulking-metal-death-machines-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/star-wars-battlefront-mod-with-realistic-graphics-2016-7This is the best that any 'Star Wars' game has ever lookedhttp://www.businessinsider.com/star-wars-battlefront-mod-with-realistic-graphics-2016-7
Mon, 04 Jul 2016 14:39:00 -0400Ben Gilbert
<p>In the newest "Star Wars" game, "Battlefront," you're given a sandbox of "Star Wars" characters and worlds to play in.</p>
<p>It's&nbsp;<em>very</em> pretty &mdash; one of the best-looking games on any system &mdash; but doesn't hold a candle to what one intrepid gamer turned it into.&nbsp;<strong>Behold:</strong></p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5654d733dd089511268b46d3-1920-1080/46 - dphdjqr.png" alt="Star Wars Battlefront mod" data-mce-source="Martin Bergman" data-link="http://imgur.com/a/ib8nW" /></p>
<p>No, that isn't a still from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" &mdash; that's what happens when you apply a new "mod" (modification) to "Star Wars Battlefront" on PC. And no, you can't do this to&nbsp;the Xbox One or PlayStation 4 versions, sadly; modding games requires a level of access to the guts of a game that you simply can't access on consoles.</p>
<p>All that aside:&nbsp;<em>Whoa</em>, right?</p><h3>Every one of these images was captured by the mod's creator, Martin Bergman.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5654d730dd089511268b46a7-400-300/every-one-of-these-images-was-captured-by-the-mods-creator-martin-bergman.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>Bergman says that running the mod can be pretty intensive on your computer's processor.</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5654d730dd089511268b46a6-400-300/bergman-says-that-running-the-mod-can-be-pretty-intensive-on-your-computers-processor.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>It apparently drops the framerate pretty dramatically (in the 30-40 frames per second range).</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5654d730dd089511268b46a8-400-300/it-apparently-drops-the-framerate-pretty-dramatically-in-the-30-40-frames-per-second-range.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/star-wars-battlefront-mod-with-realistic-graphics-2016-7#/#but-its-worth-it-for-these-gorgeous-visuals-no-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/upcoming-video-game-titanfall-2-looks-incredible-2016-6This giant robot game could be the shooter of the yearhttp://www.businessinsider.com/upcoming-video-game-titanfall-2-looks-incredible-2016-6
Thu, 23 Jun 2016 09:22:00 -0400Alex Perry
<p>One of life's basic truths is that giant robots are the coolest. There is no situation that wouldn't be improved by the presence of your own personal robot that you could pilot whenever you wanted. </p>
<p>That's why "Titanfall 2" is so exciting.</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5761bf8fdd089534038b4ade-1920/screen%20shot%202016-06-15%20at%204.21.16%20pm.png" alt="titanfall 2" data-mce-source="Respawn Entertainment"></p>
<p>The new shooter comes from many of the brilliant minds behind one of the best shooters ever made: "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare." The core shooting action everyone loved so much from "Modern Warfare" is also in "Titanfall," but it's applied it to a world where each soldier can call down a sweet mech at a moment's notice.</p>
<p>There's much more "Titanfall 2" than giant robots, of course, so we put together some of the coolest stuff we could dig up:</p><h3>The biggest new addition to "Titanfall 2" is a full single-player campaign. This time, we get to step into the shoes of a soldier with some kind of emotional bond to his mech.</h3>
<p><p><biembeddedobject id="62814e39-6dc7-4f62-b1e5-dd6fdb646f4a" class="raw">RAW Embed</biembeddedobject></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>This is BT-7274, a mech with a voice like Optimus Prime. Its original pilot was killed in action.</h3>
<p><p><biembeddedobject id="d4891c89-0bb1-4c94-a314-4044fc6b0276" class="raw">RAW Embed</biembeddedobject></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Out of desperation, BT-7274 authorizes a soldier named Jack Cooper to be its new pilot. A wonderful new friendship is born!</h3>
<p><p><biembeddedobject id="fcf756a8-ceea-4efc-a189-19a1e4e60046" class="raw">RAW Embed</biembeddedobject></p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/upcoming-video-game-titanfall-2-looks-incredible-2016-6#/#titanfall-2-is-really-emphasizing-this-whole-mech-friendship-thing-heres-hoping-it-doesnt-take-itself-too-seriously-in-this-regard-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/video-game-companies-honor-orlando-at-e3-2016-6Video game companies made a small, smart gesture in honor of the Orlando shooting victimshttp://www.businessinsider.com/video-game-companies-honor-orlando-at-e3-2016-6
Tue, 14 Jun 2016 13:15:49 -0400Ben Gilbert
<p>Every June, the video game industry descends on&nbsp;Los Angeles for the biggest event of the year: the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). And every year, the heavy-hitters of the industry hold press conferences &mdash; Sony's PlayStation, Microsoft's Xbox, and a handful from various game publishers (EA, Ubisoft, Bethesda).&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/575f1111dd0895ea098b4727-940/e3newsrecaphero.jpg" alt="xbox E3 2016 phil spencer" data-mce-source="Xbox" /></p>
<p>This is why there are dozens of new video game trailers flooding the internet this week. And since we're talking about video games, many of these trailers are filled with gun violence. Sometimes it's a made-up war, sometimes it's a fantasy world, sometimes it's the apocalypse (or thereabouts), and sometimes it's an actual war where tens of millions of people died.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/57603cccdd08959b5b8b4dfa-2400/screen shot 2016-06-12 at 5.07.03 pm.png" alt="battlefield 1" data-mce-source="DICE" /></p>
<p>In all instances, watching lengthy marketing presentations &mdash; the&nbsp;press conferences &mdash; for a bunch of games full of gun violence&nbsp;<em>directly after</em> the largest mass shooting in American history feels beyond awkward to the point of disrespectful.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Thankfully, despite being competitors, the game industry figured out a smart, respectful way to acknowledge the events in Orlando. Starting with the Bethesda Softworks press conference on Sunday night, presenters donned this small ribbon:</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/57603be4dd089547398b47b7-829/littlethings.jpg" alt="Bethesda at E3 2016" data-mce-source="Bethesda Softworks" /></p>
<p>That theme pervaded the following press conferences from Microsoft's Xbox, Ubisoft, and Sony's PlayStation. The idea is simple: Nod to the tragedy in Florida respectfully.</p>
<p>Let's be clear: E3 is an event that's planned months in advance, and gun violence in video games is nothing new. Violence is the main form of interaction in most video games, for better or worse. But a subtle acknowledgment of what happened in Orlando, literally on the same day that E3 kicked off, was crucial.</p>
<p>Thankfully, nearly every major press conference at this year's show offered some form of recognition (we didn't notice any recognition from EA, unfortunately).</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/57603cccdd08959b5b8b4dfb-959/screen shot 2016-06-14 at 9.06.27 am.png" alt="Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo" data-mce-source="Nintendo" /></p>
<p>Two of the five press conferences even went as far as to start with a speech offering condolences to the victims in Orlando and their families &mdash; something that may seem obvious, but is a hard right turn for a company to make ahead of an expensive, long-planned marketing event. Still, it was heartening to see the game industry embrace this small tribute to the Orlando shooting &mdash; despite&nbsp;all the virtual gun violence that followed.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/video-game-companies-honor-orlando-at-e3-2016-6#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ps4-vr-games-look-incredible-star-wars-batman-resident-evil-2016-6">The games for PlayStation 4's VR headset look incredible</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-every-upcoming-star-wars-game-2016-6Here are the next 4 'Star Wars' games through 2018 and beyondhttp://www.businessinsider.com/heres-every-upcoming-star-wars-game-2016-6
Mon, 13 Jun 2016 09:08:00 -0400Tim Mulkerin
<p>You're not going to be able to escape the reach of "Star Wars" for a long time.</p>
<p>Put more precisely, there are <em>four&nbsp;</em>new "Star Wars" games coming out in the next three years or so<em>.&nbsp;</em>&mdash; as in, the same amount of "Star Wars" films were produced&nbsp;between 1977 and 1999.</p>
<p>As a part of this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), we got (<a href="http://www.ea.com/play2016/news/the-future-of-ea-and-star-wars-games">very brief!</a>) looks at each one of these new games. These teases came as a part of Electronic Arts' (EA) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrIEW7woFFo">press conference</a> &mdash; the company that has exclusive rights to publish "Star Wars" games for the next ten years. Here&nbsp;are all the titles we know about so far:</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/575e5507dd0895ea098b460d-2400/screen shot 2016-06-12 at 11.51.15 pm.png" alt="Star Wars Motive and Criterion virtual reality game E3 2016" data-mce-source="YouTube/Electronic Arts" data-link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrIEW7woFFo" /></p>
<p>The first is a virtual reality "mission" &mdash; a term that's probably indicative of its length &mdash; coming to the PlayStation 4's PlayStation VR headset later this year. It's being made by DICE (the company that made the recently released "Star Wars: Battlefront") and Criterion, who you might know for the "Burnout" and "Need for Speed" series.</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/56ab7d1bdd0895c6798b46cc-1920/lukeskywalker.jpg" alt="Star Wars Battlefront" data-mce-source="EA" /></p>
<p>Those of you who weren't fans of the recent multiplayer shooter "Star Wars: Battlefront" are going to be disappointed &mdash; the next big "Star Wars" game is going to be a sequel to that title, arriving in 2017. Now, DICE has said it is working to improve on what the first "Star Wars: Battlefront" delivered, so keep your fingers crossed that it delivers on that promise.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/575e5507dd0895ea098b460e-2400/screen shot 2016-06-12 at 4.55.51 pm.png" alt="E3 2016 star wars electronic arts visceral games amy hennig" data-mce-source="YouTube/Electronic Arts" data-link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrIEW7woFFo" /></p>
<p>The next truly exciting "Star Wars" game is coming in 2018 (it will be here sooner than you think!) from Visceral Games, a company best known for the creepy "Dead Space" series. It's being lead by Amy Hennig, the head writer and creative director on the first three games in the massively popular&nbsp;"Uncharted" series. Just a few seconds of early footage was shown for this game during&nbsp;EA's press conference, but it looks like it will be a third-person action adventure game. Though we don't know for sure, we're betting this one will be a grittier, shooter-style game, and probably won't feature a lightsaber-wielding protagonist.</p>
<p><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/575e5507dd0895ea098b460f-2400/screen shot 2016-06-13 at 12.06.43 am.png" alt="e3 2016 Star Wars Respawn Entertainment Electronic Arts" data-mce-source="YouTube/Electronic Arts" data-link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrIEW7woFFo" /></p>
<p>Even farther off is another action-adventure game in early development by Respawn Entertainment, the company behind the multiplayer shooter "Titanfall" and the soon-to-be-released "<a href="http://www.techinsider.io/titanfall-2-campaign-trailer-e3-2016-2016-6">Titanfall 2</a>." This game is so early in development that the only thing we saw during E3 was some footage of actors in those snazzy ping-pong ball motion capture suits. As opposed to the game being made by Visceral, this one looks like it will prominently feature Jedi. There's no release date attached to this game yet, likely because it's still in the early stages of development, but expect to see this in 2019 or possibly 2020.</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/575e5507dd0895ea098b4610-2400/screen shot 2016-06-13 at 12.07.20 am.png" alt="E3 2016 Star Wars The Old Republic Electronic Arts" data-mce-source="YouTube/Electronic Arts" data-link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrIEW7woFFo" /></p>
<p>If that's not enough to whet your appetite, there will also be new content for existing "Star Wars" games coming over the next year or so.&nbsp;That includes:</p>
<ol>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Three more expansion packs for "Star Wars: Battlefront"</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">New content coming to the mobile strategy game "Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes"</span></li>
<li>New expansions coming to the massive multiplayer online game "Star Wars: The Old Republic"</li>
</ol>
<p><span style="line-height: 22.5px;">What did we tell you? There's a lot of "Star Wars" coming your way, so batten down the hatches, grab a lightsaber, and get to work.</span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/star-wars-hologram-projector-records-vinyl-2016-6" >These 'Star Wars' records project holograms while playing music</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-every-upcoming-star-wars-game-2016-6#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/star-wars-hologram-projector-records-vinyl-2016-6">These 'Star Wars' records project holograms while playing music</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/the-biggest-games-of-e3-2016-2016-620 huge video games to watch for at E3http://www.businessinsider.com/the-biggest-games-of-e3-2016-2016-6
Fri, 10 Jun 2016 10:57:00 -0400Alex Perry
<p>There are&nbsp;<em>always</em> awesome new video games coming out, but if you don't know where to look, it can be tough to keep up. That's what the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, is good for.</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/575ad54add0895c2678b4a84-1920/rendition1.img.jpg" alt="battlefield 1" data-mce-source="Electronic Arts" /></p>
<p>E3 is easily the biggest gaming event of the year, where all the heavy-hitters of the video game industry come together in Los Angeles to show off what&nbsp;they're working on. Hundreds of video games, big and small, will be at E3 2016, and we've compiled a list of 20 of the games you definitely need to know about before the show starts next week.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that these are just the ones we already know about. Plenty of new, completely unexpected games are sure to be announced, too, and we'll have all the news as it hits next week.</p><h3>"The Legend of Zelda" for Wii U</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/57573299dd089582558b4c3a-400-300/the-legend-of-zelda-for-wii-u.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>The long-awaited next entry in Nintendo's venerable "Zelda" series was revealed two years&nbsp;ago, but we don't even know its name yet.&nbsp;What we do know is that it takes series hero&nbsp;Link to a massive open world, one where Nintendo claims players will have total freedom to decide where to go and what to do once they get there. As you can see, it's got&nbsp;a&nbsp;<em>gorgeous</em> art style.</p>
<p>Nintendo has confirmed that this is basically all it's&nbsp;showing at E3 this year, so get ready to see plenty of "Zelda." Despite the fact that this game is launching simultaneously on Wii U and <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/nintendo-nx-launches-in-2017-2016-4">Nintendo's mysterious new NX console</a> in early 2017, only the Wii U version is being shown.</p>
<p><strong>Platforms: Wii U, NX</strong></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>"Mass Effect: Andromeda"</h3>
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/575ad54add0895c2678b4a86-400-300/mass-effect-andromeda.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>The&nbsp;story of Commander Shepard wrapped up pretty directly in "Mass Effect 3," but the game's developer isn't&nbsp;done with this&nbsp;amazing sci-fi universe yet. The new entry in the excellent role-playing game series gives&nbsp;players a chance to explore the Andromeda galaxy for the first time, making friends and enemies with its native inhabitants.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"Mass Effect" has a grand tradition of allowing players to shape the world through the decisions they make, as well as develop meaningful relationships with characters along the way. Combine that with an entire new galaxy to explore, and "Mass Effect: Andromeda" could be pretty outstanding.</p>
<p><strong>Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC</strong></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>"Battlefield 1"</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/575ad54add0895c2678b4a84-400-300/battlefield-1.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>As "Call of Duty" goes to the future this year (more on that later), its main competitor in the military shooter genre goes&nbsp;<em>way</em> back, all the way to World War I. It's an interesting choice, especially as other multiplayer shooters like "Overwatch" and "Battleborn" become increasingly cartoonish and over-the-top.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We don't know yet how developer DICE will make it fun to participate in a war where the technology is comparatively primitive with&nbsp;previous "Battlefield" games, but the studio has a killer pedigree.&nbsp;If anyone can do it, DICE can.</p>
<p><strong>Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC</strong></p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-biggest-games-of-e3-2016-2016-6#/#the-last-guardian-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a>